1 – Snow, all the time

2 – Drama Dock carries on

The Drama Dockers were not easily dissuaded by the weather, putting the set for Odd Couple – Female Version into full service. I snuck a peak at rehearsals, and it’s looking mighty fun. The show is shaping up very, very nicely and you can buy your tickets here. Please! Shout out to Peter Serko for these superb photos.

3 – Finally, we cleared it

It wasn’t just our friends at Drama Dock, but they were the ones who most directly (and lovingly) suggested it might be easier all around if we cleared the snow from our parking lot. I kept thinking mother nature would help us out, but Herb Beck came to her and our rescue. Thank you Herb!

4 – LitCon, come on!

We’re busy planning Vashon Lit Con 2019 and lining up some fun and engaging activities. Here’s one we can’t wait to share. In partnership with the King County library, we’re taking the lead from popular rappers who are giving children’s literature a whole new flavor. In our version, kids read aloud selected books set to music in an epic Vashon Rap Battle. Check out Ludacris showing us how it’s done.

Don’t miss this great Lit Con event! Details coming soon.

5 – Tired of thinking about snow?

Tired of thinking about snow? We have the perfect antidote! Arts Education Spring classes are now open for registration. Learn magic with Tom Pruiksma, adult improv with Mik Kuhlman, acting with Chris Boscia, photography with Ray Pfortner…check out the full listing here and treat yourself to some springtime fun!

6 – Finally, and this is a sixth thing

Given the week we’ve had on Vashon, I thought I would share five outstanding weather-appropriate tunes (no holiday specific songs allowed).

Written in 1937 by Irving Berlin, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm was introduced in the musical film On the Avenue (1937) by Dick Powell and Alice Faye. Lot’s of folks have covered it, and honestly I don’t know which of these three I like best (there are others). How about you?

Betraying my boomer heritage, I’ve got Simon and Garfunkle‘s Hazy Shade of Winter on this list. The song hit the Billboard chart On October 30th 1966 at position #81. It peaked five weeks later at #13 and spent nine weeks on the Top 100. Some people actually prefer the Bangle’s cover. I’m not one of them.

This will seem counterintuitive, but listen to California Dreaming’ back to back with Hazy. They’re like bookends. Something in the water?

From Hazy

I look aroundLeaves are brown, nowAnd the sky is a hazy shade of winterLook aroundLeaves are brownThere’s a patch of snow on the ground

From California Dreamin’

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)

Coming forward a five decades, add Zac Brown Band‘s Colder Weather to the list of songs I just can’t put down, regardless the season.

And finally, the cool kids will know White Winter Hymnal from local indie band, Fleet Foxes.

Why “Fish Wrap”? Years ago, living in San Francisco, I became a devotee of a legendary journalists named Herb Caen. While he may not have been the first to use the phrase in connection with “yesterday’s news,” he is the one I remember. Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish wrap. Maybe it’s a generational thing. At any rate, we call our Friday wrap up, The Friday Fish Wrap . . . Five things worth knowing about VCA this Friday.

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Five things worth knowing this week 1 – Tickets to richer life for sale every day One of the many virtues of living on Vashon is the tasty cultural stew so many of us are cooking on a weekly basis. Hardly a day goes by when there isn’t an opportunity to contemplate wonderful visual art, […]

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Friends, the Fisherman is on vacation this week, so sadly, no Fish to be Wrapped. See you next week! Why “Fish Wrap”? Years ago, living in San Francisco, I became a devotee of a legendary journalists named Herb Caen. While he may not have been the first to use the phrase in connection with “yesterday’s […]

Five things worth knowing this week 1 – Snow, all the time The snow was beautiful, there was a lot of it, and it closed us down nearly all week. If you missed the photos I posted on Instagram, here they are again. 2 – Drama Dock carries on The Drama Dockers were not easily […]